Mandel proposes Fresh Thyme grocery, apartments in former Fox Point school

Mandel Group Inc. is negotiating to buy a long-closed Fox Point school for a new development that would include a Fresh Thyme Farmers Market grocery, apartments and an Azura Memory Care facility.

The development would replace the former Dunwood School property at North Port Washington Road and Dunwood Road. The school district hasn’t used it as a school since 1992, and issued a request for developers to submit offers to buy and redevelop the land, said Janice DeMeuse, director of business services for the Fox Point-Bayside School District.

Mandel Group is offering a new Fresh Thyme grocery store that would face Port Washington Road. Behind it would be two buildings standing three stories tall with up to 103 luxury apartments. Also planned is the Azura Memory Care facility with 44 beds, DeMeuse said. Up to 10 townhouses would line Dunwood Road facing the neighborhoods on the opposite side of the street.

The existing school building, which the district is renting out to nonprofit groups, would be demolished.

Mandel Group also partnered with Fresh Thyme on its North End development in Milwaukee’s Park East corridor. That project features a grocery with apartments on the upper floors. In Fox Point, the developer plans a stand-alone Fresh Thyme store.

Mandel’s offer was the only one received in response to the district’s request for proposals, DeMeuse said. The Milwaukee developer presented its plan to the school board on Monday, and board members asked that negotiations over a land deal continue, DeMeuse said.

The land sale price is under negotiation, she said. DeMeuse said district officials hope to have an agreement worked out for the board to review in early March.

“If we can come to a purchase agreement, any purchase would have to be approved through the village because they control the zoning,” she said.